January 17

Between Worship, SS, & Youth group, my nose was in the Bible plenty, but I didn't read my daily reading yesterday.  However, I did get caught back up today.  I'm determined to not get behind! 

So Dinah gets raped and her brothers hatch quite an impressive plan of revenge....  Starting with deceit which caused the men to all get circumcised....  And on the third day while the men were still sore (ya think?) they went in and murdered them in revenge and plundered their stuff....  Again, this stuff is rated R for sure!

Reuban (Jacob's oldest with Leah) had intercourse with Bilhah, his concubine (Rachel's servant) or his 1/2 brother's mother (eeeeew!)  and Jacob soon heard about it, but so far that's all it says, just that he soon heard about it.  So far no consequences for this.... the things that make you say hmmmmm....

Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin, I'd forgotten that was how she died.

New Testament reading Jesus teaches about it being acceptable to do good on the Sabbath.  In other words, it's not "work" .  Even though he knows the Pharisees are trying to trip him up he heals the guys hand just to prove his point.  And the Pharisees call a meeting to plot how to kill him....  Jesus really was not a meek dude.  I think with his turn the other cheek teaching, people get the idea that he was a bit of a push over door mat... Sooo not the case.  In this account it's more like "how do ya like them apples..."  Of course he does move along since he knows what they are plotting.  But certainly that was wise, not wimpish!

Kind of goes along with the Proverbs reading  (3:31) " My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment."

Wish more people would not lose sight of common sense.  I think common sense is no longer "common".

Tomorrow's readings will be Genesis 37:1-38, Matthew 12:22-45; Psalm 16:1-11 and Proverbs 3:27-32